Wood Pasture & Parkland Survey
Our wood pasture survey – a walk in the park!
If you can’t picture what this habitat looks like, you are not alone! This is an understudied, historically overlooked habitat, consequentially general awareness of its existence let alone its wildlife value, is low. Your garden, village green space or local park may be a fragment of old wood pasture without you even knowing it.
We know fragments of ancient wood pasture are still present, but there are no reliable statistics on the extent, loss or fragmentation. Please help us discover them.
We’ve devised a survey technique to assess the condition of wood pastures. Now we’re asking for your help.
The survey itself is very simple to conduct, it’s really a structured walk around these beautiful areas which can be done specifically, or as part of a day out with family and friends.
If you would like to help by surveying sites near you, please request a wood pasture survey pack
If you would like to help by surveying sites near you, or own some wood pasture that you would like to survey, please request a survey pack. Or contact megan.gimber@ptes.org if you have any questions. We will send you maps of sites near you and a survey kit which has all the information and forms you will need to survey wood pasture and parkland in your area.
Wood Pasture and Parkland sites in England
This map shows the Natural England inventory for Wood Pasture and Parkland. For a full representation of this data, see their website.
This is a representation of where this habitat exists, not necessarily where you can visit. These sites are not all open to the public, many are privately or commercially owned.
What we aim to achieve
The first step of improvement is always measurement. You cannot improve what you cannot measure
This survey aims to record the extent and condition of wood pasture and parkland habitat across England. This information will become a baseline, to which all future conservation efforts can be compared. It will be able to guide future conservation efforts in a comprehensive and informed manner.
By taking part in this survey you are helping us achieve this. You will be contributing to a central record, logging both location and condition of this habitat. This data will enable us to share best practice management advice to individual sites, as well as assess the nationwide condition and connectivity of this habitat.
Surveying Richmond Park
Many of the species assemblages in wood pasture are the product of a long wood pasture legacy. They often have low dispersal ranges so it is important to see how well connected this habitat is nationwide and where the condition of sites might threaten this connectivity.
The data produced will help landowners and the general public alike recognise the value of this habitat. This includes its culture, history and beauty, but also a vital and unique habitat for some of our most threatened species.
If you would like to help by surveying sites near you, please request a wood pasture survey pack